Alongside which, of course, the state is also a hotbed for contemporary arts and culture, as evidenced everywhere from its diverse range of galleries to a packed events calendar.

Noteworthy attractions are scattered all over New South Wales. Open in Sydney since 2015, the Barangaroo Reserve is a new headland park on the harbour foreshore – the spot has a long historical significance that can be explored by touring with an Aboriginal guide – while elsewhere in the city the Royal Botanic Garden has permanent displays portraying different elements of the state’s Indigenous heritage.

Also in Sydney, the Art Gallery NSW has excellent collections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks alongside other Australian and contemporary pieces – it stages around 40 different exhibitions annually.

A trip to the urban waterfront district known as The Rocks, meanwhile, gives the chance to encounter colonial-era architecture and some of the country’s oldest pubs and buildings.

The majestic Blue Mountains can also be explored year-round with an Aboriginal guide – it’s possible to take a “walkabout” day-trip from Sydney that incorporates everything from bush tucker to dreamtime stories.

Indigenous culture: learn more about the country’s cultural heritageCredit:
Alamy

Up in the north of the state, the five-day Byron Bay Bluesfest takes place each Easter and stands as one of the liveliest musical celebrations in New South Wales.

As of 2016, it now has a dedicated Aboriginal festival – known as Boomerang at Bluesfest – running alongside it.

Other major cultural events to be aware of include the mammoth Tamworth Country Music Festival, held over 10 days each January, and of course Sydney Festival, a colourful multi-arts programme also staged at the start of the year.

The state is blessed with some first-rate regional art galleries. Prominent examples include the Wollongong Art Gallery and the Newcastle Art Gallery, both of which offer significant bodies of work from the colonial era, as well as strong Indigenous collections.

On the banks of the Murray River in Albury, meanwhile, the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk blends Aboriginal art with local nature.

One of the joys of visiting Australia lies in the chance to learn more about the country’s cultural heritage, and in New South Wales, it’s an aspect of life that’s very much alive.

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